Serving the communities of East Grinstead, Forest Row, Hartfield, Ashurst Wood, Lingfield, Dormansland, Crawley Down, Felbridge, Newchapel and the surrounding areas
3 December 2024
Let’ s help one another to do well and prosper
To celebrate the festive season, we’ve cooked up a feast of interesting features, fascinating articles and useful pointers to help you with the business of successful life and living.
Once again, the communities of the area have shown their cultural strength-in-depth: an awful lot of people out there quietly getting on with the business of helping one another and providing all the various endeavours that make life enjoyable and game where everyone can win.
It’s been said that the greatest purpose is to help and when you look, you see that that really is what drives people even if they themselves don’t realise it.
And you see it even more powerfully when the honour falls to you to publish a community magazine designed to get all the unsung heroes out there to sing a bit.
And for that joy I must sincerely thank from the bottom of my heart all the past, present and future contributors to the Town Crier project.
Please have a thorough read of and enjoy this issue and bear in mind that if you have a story to tell, news to share, a cause to promote, a crusade to energise or an audience to invigorate, then we will be pleased to hear from you.
Getting published in the Town Crier is free. Whilst we will soon be offering a limited amount of space for paid advertising, if you have something interesting to say or are a not-for-profit or charity, getting published here will remain completely free. All we’ll ask of you is a bit of creativity.
So send your submissions to me at steve.cook.writer@gmail.com without delay: the January issue is already now under construction.
On 10 the December I was very pleased to be interviewed by Judith Thompson of Feelgood Radio as part of their morning program. Judith very kindly sent me a recording of the feature, which if you missed the broadcast, you can listen to here.
Grinstead photographer, Russell Prain. Find him on Instagram.
East Grinstead, Champions of Europe by Town Mayor Steve Ody
News from Meridian FM
Maths Tips by Helen Chisholm
Growing Community Whilst Growing Food, by the “We Grow” initiative
EG artist, Kirsty Chapman
EG Lions
Jigsaw South East
How To Basically empowering you with know-how
Commended and Recommended
The Man Who Lost His Sandwich
The Joy of Panting by Sally Oasis
Warrior Arts and Fitness
Crawley Down Ladies’ Choir
UK Rhino Challenge
Christians Against Poverty
Dr Merlee Harris –Blazing a trail to wellbeing for all
Jo Way on her love of art
A Letter to Man for 2025
Seasonal Smartphone Snaps
Well Healthy helping you live a healthier life
Unlocking success by Alice Watkyn
CARE in EG
MyFolks
Little Kickers
Pillar Box Acquires Natty Hat
Run for TMD Brighton Half Marathon
A Recipe that won’t kill you
By East Grinstead Town Mayor, Cllr Steve Ody
As Mayor of East Grinstead, I had the privilege of witnessing the outstanding achievements of our students and teachers from Sackville School, who in June this year returned triumphant from the Town Twinning Youth Games Jeunes sans Frontières (Youth without Borders).
Hosted in Bourg de Péage, France, the event brought together young people from our twin towns in Spain, France, Austria, Italy, and Germany for four days of sports and cultural exchange.
This year’s games were particularly memorable, coinciding with the passage of the Olympic Flame through the town a unique and inspiring backdrop. Our delegation students Lizzie, Evie, Hannah, Addy, Freddie, and Lucas, supported by their amazing teachers Mr. Dupoy and Mrs. Plumb not only represented East Grinstead with distinction but also emerged as overall winners of the event.
Their success is a testament to their teamwork, determination, and positive spirit, making their victory all the more special. Throughout the trip, our students demonstrated a remarkable openness to meeting peers from different cultures, striking up conversations and forming friendships that transcended borders.
The feedback from other delegates was resoundingly positive, with frequent praise for their kindness, sportsmanship and inclusivity.
Hearing these comments was a real source of pride, and I can say without hesitation that they were excellent ambassadors for East Grinstead.
This sense of pride extends to the whole town. The Sackville team’s achievements have highlighted the importance of town twinning and the values it promotes cooperation, understanding and mutual respect. None of this would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Town Twinning Association, whose efforts behind the scenes ensured the success of the trip.
Looking ahead, we are thrilled that East Grinstead will host the Jeunes sans Frontières event in 2027, welcoming young people from across Europe to our town for what promises to be a wonderful celebration of sport, culture, and friendship. For more information about East Grinstead’s Town Twinning, please visit https://egtwinning.org.uk
In an increasingly interconnected world, it is heartening to see our young people stepping forward as compassionate and engaged citizens. Through their participation, they have embodied the essence of Jeunes sans Frontières using sport and cultural exchange to build friendships and connections across borders.
As we celebrate their success and their crowning as Champions of Europe, let us also look to the future, supporting our young people in every endeavour and continuing to foster the relationships that make our town twinning such a valued tradition.
You can find the Mayor’s blog here
This montage celebrates the 2024 half of cllr Steve Ody’s tenure as East Grinstead Town Mayor
Looking forward to 2025!
Meridian FM were delighted to take part in the Edenbridge Christmas Fair which took place on Saturday November 30th.
Meridan FM’s Jeannie B compèred the event introducing many local live acts, from Morris Dancing to the Collection Church singers from churches in Edenbridge.
The High Street was full of wonderful stalls selling everything from candles to candy floss, there was even a 1940’s tea room!
Of course, Santa came along to see all the children and made sure they were all on the good list, and, guess what, they all were!
Well done to the Edenbridge Community Christmas Association for fundraising for such a wonderful local event, and they said they cannot wait to do it all again next year. Hurrah!!
Jeannie Bizzell Managing Director
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Meridian FM
Even though it’s the festive season and children deserve a well-earned break, keeping times tables fresh in their minds doesn’t have to feel like a chore.
In fact, just a few minutes a day can make all the difference.
Times tables form the foundation for so many areas of maths, from fractions and division to algebra and problem-solving. By helping children spot patterns and use clever methods, they don’t need to memorize every single fact by rote to become confident mathematicians.
Patterns are a game-changer when it comes to times tables. For example, recognizing that the 2s, 4s, and 8s are all related helps children build on what they already know. If they can double a number for the 2 times table, they can double it again for the 4s and yet again for the 8s. Similarly, the 10s follow a simple pattern of adding a zero, and the 9s have a neat trick where the digits add up to 9 (e.g., 9 × 3 = 27, and 2 +7 = 9).
Encouraging children to look for these shortcuts turns learning into a fun puzzle.
While learning by rote has its place building speed and recall it’s not the only path to mastery.
Understanding relationships between numbers fosters deeper comprehension. For instance, if a child knows that 5 × 6 = 30, they can quickly deduce that 6 × 5 = 30 too, halving the facts they need to memorize.
To keep times tables engaging, free online games like Hit The Button or www.timestables.co.uk are excellent tools. These interactive website helps children practice quick recall while having fun.
Over the holidays, why not challenge your child to beat their high score or explore patterns in the answers?
Or, this Christmas, incorporate quick, playful activities to keep those tables ticking over. Challenge your
child to find patterns while setting the table for dinner or play multiplication games while waiting for the turkey to roast.
By blending festive fun with light learning, you’ll help ensure that times tables are a gift that keeps on giving!
Please do reach out to me on makingitcountmathstuition@gmail.com for more information or details on how to learn times tables.
And I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas!
Maths tutor, Helen Chisholm, has very kindly agreed to contribute a monthly column giving valuable tips on how to excel, or help your children excel at maths.
Produce fresh and organic vegetables, eggs, mushrooms, or herbs while socialising. This is the ultimate healthy, cheap, fun and easy way to get your food!
Imagine you put in 2 hours once a week growing food with new friends and take home a veg box every time! Depending on the land, you could also produce mushrooms, eggs, or herbs for making medicinal tinctures.
You also get invited to local events, where everyone swaps and shares seeds, seedlings, tools and knowledge.
their land with other local people, so that they could all grow their food together.
Everyone who joined had busy lives with work and school, but on workdays they’d chuck on their wellies and come together for a few hours of fun looking after the land, growing food, eating together and hanging out by the fire afterwards.
Over a few years, more and more people in the area asked if they could get some help to do the same and create community on their land, allotments and gardens. Growing groups were brought together and community swaps started happening.
Eventually a CIC was formed by some of the women in the growing groups, who got funding to train a team that carries on the work of connecting people with land in other areas.
The We Grow team is made up of people with all sorts of skills including community development and community organising, self-development, teaching, horticulture, permaculture, biodynamic gardening, market garden production, garden design and local activism.
Growing as a group, sharing a watering rota, covering for each other and taking weeks off, makes this 1000 times easier than your own allotment or garden plot. And it’s great for your health, your food bills, your kids and the planet!
Just like many great community-born projects, We Grow grew in a totally organic way (pardon the pun!). A family who owned a smallholding offered to share
Networks of growing groups are currently focused in Forest Row, Lewes, Uckfield, Crowborough and surrounding areas. We Grow also runs funded projects, in partnership with other organisations, on large plots around Sussex.
We support groups to develop strong, positive relationships with each other and the local network they’re part of. Growing Community whilst Growing Food is at the heart of what we do.
If you’d like to find out more about joining a growing group or sharing your land if you have some, visit www.wegrow.org.uk and follow our social media pages www.facebook.com/WeGrow and www.instagram.com/wegrow.cic
Saturday 18th January 2025
January Forest Row Repair Café
Start the New Year with a good resolution to rescue all your broken items from being thrown in the bin.
Find us in the Community Centre, Forest Row RH18 5DZ. 10am-1.00pm with last orders at 12.30.
Find out more about the Forest Row Repair Café
As the year draws to a close, we at Spirit, Mind & Body Studio would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our wonderful community. This year has been one of connection, growth, and shared mindfulness, and we are so grateful to have every member who has taken a class as part of our journey.
This festive season, may you find moments of peace amidst the bustle, joy in simple pleasures, and warmth in the company of loved ones. As we step into 2025, we look forward to welcoming you onto the mat whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a curious beginner, there’s always space for you here. www.spiritmindandbodystudio.com
Historic Military Fingerprint Paintings by East Grinstead Artist Kirsty Chapman
An artist from West Sussex who specialises in Remembrance artwork made out of fingerprints is appealing once again to members of the armed forces to help her create her latest painting.
Kirsty Chapman from East Grinstead creates military –themed artwork using her own fingerprints to represent the individual mark each serviceman woman and veteran makes on history. She sells these and donates a portion to military charities.
"The inspiration for these paintings came from my nan who worked alongside Sir Archibald McIndoe cooking for the burned RAF pilots and surgeons. She was immensely proud to do this and used to tell me never to forget what they did. My great-grandfather was also in the Royal Ulster Rifles and volunteered for the Gliders and my great-uncle was in the Royal Navy."
Since 2019, just as lockdown started, she has been busy creating a very special type of artwork which is both unique and historic. Kirsty has been carefully making paintings out of the fingerprints of current and ex-serving military personnel and family members in memory of the Fallen and Departed. One at a
time she travels around with the painting meeting members of the military and their families, inviting them to add a fingerprint, which represents a poppy on the canvas. Each poppy is numbered and the contributor then writes their name in a book accompanying the painting next to the same number so that in future they can be matched.
"My aim is that in years to come, people can look up their loved ones’ prints and remember the sacrifices made for our freedom and safety. I have all different regiments, ages and branches of the military who have added fingerprints. To see them all together on one painting puts into perspective how many all worked together to achieve it, just like when fighting in a war. "
The first painting took her over 2 years whilst we dealt with COVID and various lockdowns. Kirsty doesn't drive so carried the big canvas by hand on public transport and travelled with friends who kindly helped transport her and her artwork. She attended events and met people up and down the country to achieve the artwork and allow them to add their fingerprints to the painting. Once completed, the painting was donated to the Chavasse clinic in Brighton, which treats veterans and service personnel for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. The artwork was unveiled by HM the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex and Lt Col Benjamin Caesar. It was also filmed by ITV news.
"The first painting was donated with prints from 164 individuals, some adding more than one print so there must be over 200 on the canvas."
Ex Sgt Paul Grief of the Kings Royal Hussars has been a particular support, having added one of the first fingerprints to the first painting. He has accompanied Kirsty on many of the events and meetings, and has now started a breakfast club and drop-in centre in East Grinstead for veterans and service personnel.
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A second painting was made in the same way, and completed in just 8 months. It was started at Biggin Hill at an event held by The Taxi Charity. There were several elderly veterans in attendance including a few Chelsea Pensioners. Kirsty met several of the Chelsea Pensioners during the creation of the second painting so decided to offer to donate this artwork to the Royal Hospital Chelsea. It ended up with prints from 194 individuals. It was brought to the hospital at their annual picnic this year and donated along with the book of names. She also donated a unique painting of a Chelsea Pensioner to be added to the raffle on the day!
“I decided to donate the second painting to the Royal Hospital Chelsea because I met several Chelsea Pensioners and had their fingerprints added as part of the painting. I wanted the artwork to go somewhere with military history and I'm thrilled it was accepted and know it will be looked after there"
After a short break, Kirsty is now in the process of creating her third painting. This time in order to reach veterans and service personnel from further afield, she is encouraging contributions to be sent via post and email as well as being able to add in person.
"I will continue to make these paintings as long as there are still military personnel who would like to
add to them. I wanted to create something to leave a historic legacy and show appreciation for every single member of the armed forces, past and present!"
If you would like to add a fingerprint to the latest painting, please contact:
Kirsty Chapman, Text 07956 067 363
You can scan and email prints to: poppyartuk@gmail.com
You can post fingerprints to:
Kirsty Chapman
C/o Rick Kilner
Ex Services Club
4 Station Road East Grinstead West Sussex RH19 3DJ
"All you need is some red paint or ink, just stamp a good few prints onto a sheet of paper and add your name and service details plus any message that I can add to the accompanying book!
Thank you all for your service and I hope to hear from you soon"
On Saturday 18th January 2025, the East Grinstead & District Lions Club are delighted to be linking up with community group, Being Neighbourly, to invite all Seniors to a delicious afternoon tea and social afternoon.
The event will run from 2-5pm, is free and will be held at Sackville School in the Main Hall.
If needed, the Lions will provide transport to and from the event by minibus, which will enable anyone with mobility or transport issues to attend.
This year you will be entertained by a local Belly Dancing group, a sing-a-long with Jenny Green and the opportunity to get up and dance to some favourite songs also sung by Jenny Green.
There will be plenty of time to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea, socialise, play tabletop games and chat with friends.
At the end of the afternoon every attendee will receive a box of biscuits before going home.
Thank you!
Sharan Billings
East Grinstead and District Lions
If you would like to attend, please ring 07751 238786 and leave a message or email eganddlions@gmail.com giving your name, contact number and if you need transport getting to and from the event.
How To Basically teaches useful, practical life & DIY skills in-person and online.
We are based out of our workshop in Mid-Sussex and teach anyone of any ability and any age.
We are passionate about empowering you to live more independently, cost effectively and sustainably.
Our courses are very hands-on so that you leave feeling confident about putting your new skills to use at home.
Such skills include, for example:
• using a power drill to hang a painting/put up a shelf
• refreshing your home with a lick of paint/ wallpaper
• basic plumbing skills such as fixing a dripping tap yourself
• in general, just relying less on others to do simple, everyday tasks that may seem daunting/ overwhelming without a bit of simple know-how.
In summary, what we do is:
• teach adult weekly courses at our workshop
• work with a number of schools for pupils with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)
• work with the council to teach pupils who are not in mainstream education
• run holiday workshops for children
• run corporate team-building events
We have just launched our first online course: "How to Winterproof Your Home" which has been specifically put together to help people combat the escalating cost of heating your home and also how to protect your home from winter wear and tear.
How to Basically was founded by Justin Kelly in 2022.
Justin is very practical and hands-on but is selftaught and always wished there had been a place he could have gone to learn these simple, practical skills which were historically passed down through the generations.
He learnt by trial and error which often involved annoying and expensive mistakes!
So in the Summer of 2022 he left his job as a lawyer in the independent film world and set up How to Basically.
For much more information, go to our website now! www.howtobasically.co.uk
Knowing how to do these things yourself is incredibly rewarding but also saves money on unnecessary call -out fees and helps reduce waste.
Jigsaw South East is an independent local charity that supports local children and young people before, during and after a bereavement in West and East Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
They are based in East Grinstead, at East Court.
They have a big heart and their vision is to ensure that no child or young person faces bereavement alone.
The unique service Jigsaw provides is tailored to meet the needs of the families they support, whether in person, on the phone or online.
Jigsaw helps families cope with their grief and rebuild their lives, one piece at a time. Over the past year, they have supported over 650 children and young people who are coping with or facing the death of a loved one, and they continue to get new referrals every day.
This Christmas they are asking people of good will to be a star and support their Christmas appeal, Light the Way, which you can find out more about here https:// www.jigsawsoutheast.org.uk/lighttheway. Plus you can see their Christmas animation, which has been drawn by former Disney animator and Jigsaw Patron, Gary Andrew.
And for those who are enduring a bereavement, here is some valuable Christmas advice from Jigsaw.
Christmas and the festive period can be difficult for many families, especially those who are grieving. The big build-up in the shops and in the media can be a painful reminder of your loss. If you are missing your special person during this festive period and struggle with the anticipation and excitement in the lead up to Christmas, then you are not alone.
Here is some guidance that may help during the festive season:
Speak to your child’s school and find out in advance if they will be taking part in any activities. Ask your
child’s teacher to speak to your child in advance about any activities planned and give your child the choice to take part or opt out.
Keep things simple. The endless ‘to-do’ list can wait, try to take the pressure off yourself and ask for help. Sometimes there are so many demands on our time it can feel too much.
Talk to your family or friends about how you’re feeling about Christmas and how they can support you. You might say: “I am going to find the day hard, and it would help me if you could…”
Doing something special to remember those who have died can be an important part of Christmas day and a great comfort for some families. You may wish to continue a tradition or start a new one. What matters most is that, as far as possible, you are able to do whatever feels right for you and your family, and, if you decide on Christmas day that you don’t want to do the thing you have planned, then that’s ok too.
Spend Christmas day in a new environment, maybe with extended family, friends or go out for Christmas dinner.
Don’t feel bad about saying ‘no’, We’re all pressured by advertisers into buying lots of things for our children at Christmas and there is a temptation to want to buy lots of presents for your child to ‘make them happy’ and to take the pain of their bereavement away. Try to stay within your financial limits. Your children just want to spend time with you, cook, read or draw together, go for a family walk, ride bikes or watch a film together.
Be kind to yourself. Do what feels right for you. The build-up to Christmas can often feel worse than the day itself. It may feel important to ‘be there’ for other family members but make time for yourself too if you need it. This may mean a quiet duvet day or a day with friends and family. You will know what feel right for you and your child.
There’s no wrong or right way to mark a special occasion like Christmas. Don’t feel you need to stick to a plan or conform to what other people expect of you or what they are doing.
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Don’t feel guilty about feeling positive sometimes and enjoying a special occasion – it doesn’t mean you are grieving any less or that your connection with the person is any less important.
Go for a walk when things feel overwhelming, fresh air and nature can be incredibly calming. We’ve created a walk checklist to keep little ones occupied which is free to download
For further support, please contact our helpline Monday Friday, 9.30 12.30pm: 01342 313895.
Our service will close for the holidays at 12 noon on Tuesday, 24th December and reopen on Friday, 27th December. We will close again at 12 noon on Tuesday, 31st December and reopen with business as usual on Thursday, 2nd January. If you or someone you know needs support during this time please see the In Emergency section of our website.
The St Catherine Hospice Charity Shop in London Road, East Grinstead is looking for more volunteers to join their team.
If you’d like to help them, visit their website here
“On a sandstone ridge beside the Ashdown Forest, East Grinstead is capital of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Come and explore our ancient market town with its Medieval High Street, discover its fascinating history and the people who shaped it.. . . “
HERE
Here’s a lovely message from the proprietor of a business based in nearby Horley but with strong business and friendship ties to East Grinstead.
For your Commended and Recommended feature, I would like to give a special mention to Print in Time , based in London Road, East Grinstead, who helped me out with an urgent print of some of my labels this week. Thank you guys! Much appreciated!
Other Mentions
I have been using Sara for beauty treatments for several years and would highly recommend her. Her salon was originally in Horley and I have stayed with her for her move to East Grinstead (The Little Beauty Room, Alders View Road, East Grinstead). I have tried many other salons but stuck with her as she is very competitive and provides a very professional service.
I also used the Repair Cafe recently to service my much-needed food mixer for my business. I received excellent service with a smile and small fee.
Christmas Wishes
I am happy to offer my best Christmas and New Year wishes to all the businesses and people of East Grinstead, the lovely little town that I visit regularly and whose café, 1 Middle Row, now stocks my sauces for Christmas gifts.
Offer
If someone purchases from me via the Town Crier magazine, I offer a 5% discount. Gift packs of any 3 or 5 sauces are available. So if you found me through the Town Crier, please make sure you mention your lovely community magazine.
Love, Trudy Gillard
Bake Me a Cake and Baila Chili Sauce
We are looking for a few more players to join our U14 girls team.
The team play in the premier division of the SCWGFL league. Please get in touch with Chris on 07736 301647 for more details.
To learn more about our girls' section, please have a look at our brochure using the following link:
Crawley Down Gatwick FC Girls’ Section
See also:
Crawley Down Gatwick FC Sussex County Women and Girls' Football League
An exclusive report on revolutionary filmmaker, Salazaar Bim by Steve Cook
Bulgarian director Salazaar Bim has long been renowned for feature-length films in the popular CD (Completely Depressing) genre.
His works depict various visions of a dystopian future in which just about everything that could possibly go wrong has gone wrong and has it become something nobody in their right mind would want to live in.
They attract huge audiences, which he artfully and creatively divests of any last grains of optimism whatsoever and, indeed, the will to live - as well as boosting the sale of antidepressants. This has made him an immensely popular artist among directors and shareholders of the pharmaceutical industry.
It has been said that the epidemic of depression and suicides so often blamed on a mysterious derangement of brain chemistry that has spontaneously occurred for no apparent reason may in fact be the result of millions of people watching his films.
This, of course, has also made him very rich whilst psychiatrists have warned addicts not to withdraw cold-turkey from watching his movies but just keep taking their antidepressants instead.
His movies, cleverly depicting dystopian futures in a variety of imaginative ways, include such classics as
• Brutal Zombie Cannibals Rule the Planet
• People getting Killed in Horrible Ways (parts I, II and III),
• Blood-soaked Wastelands of Tomorrow and the award-winning
• World Without Hope, not to mention the ever-popular TV series,
• Empire of the Manic-depressive Psychopaths.
But Bim (23), evidently, feels he has achieved all there is to achieve in the "dystopian future" genre, and is seeking to expand his repertoire and to venture into new genres - indeed to invent a new genre of his own.
He explained,
"Somewhere along the way I lost my angst, that borderline mental illness that drove my creativity in its relentless downward spiral. I suddenly realised that endlessly portraying dystopian futures was all fine and dandy - I was proud of my contribution to the culture - but I had become, quite frankly, a bit bored with it all. And then one day, during the making of "The Futility of Existence" - a story in which a slightly unpleasant crew of a spaceship with really inadequate internal lighting get eaten by a mutant flu virus - in 2020, I realised that this sort of movie was just not fun anymore - at least not for me anyway. I had a flash of inspiration and decided to take a new tack. Instead of portraying futures in which everything is horrible, how about stretching my imagination a bit further, taking a flight of fancy and portraying futures in which things are not all that bad? Unlikely as that weird kind of future seems, I thought perhaps I could make it work."
A surge of creativity took him into the making of films with a radically new emphasis and ultimately to a revolutionary new genre: what he refers to as the "topian future" in which everything is all right.
The first of these was Measles Apocalypse (2022). It depicts a near future in which a measles epidemic strikes the planet and millions of people are a bit under the weather for several days before they get better.
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The Man Who Lost his Sandwich continued from previous page
The second was Glare (also 2022) in which relations between the great superpowers, Russia and Iceland, break down to such a degree that they end up glaring at one another and are taken to the very brink of shouting before the nice Syrian government intervenes and they make friends.
The third, which really defines and establishes the new genre, is already in the making. Entitled, "The Man Who Lost His Sandwich", it depicts a future in which things are quite nice. Psychiatry has been abolished, which has brought mental illness to an end. There is no income tax, people are banned from Facebook for posting pictures of not very nice cats, governments have stopped mucking people about and the human race is doing all right - except that millions of people are a bit bored, having been deprived of things to worry about.
More Movies by Salazar Bim
People getting Killed in horrible Ways 2002
Blood-soaked Zombie Cannibals Eat Babies 2008
World Without Hope 2014
World with Even Less Hope 2016
The Man in the Bleak Castle 2018
Everybody’s Dead, Dave 2019
The Futility of Existence
Set in this mindbogglingly surreal cultural background is the story of John Bland who, as the title suggests, loses his cheese sandwich and becomes quite annoyed about it. He had only just made it for his lunch, put it down on the table, turned his back for a moment and it mysteriously vanished. It is the sort of trauma that millions of people can identity with. The movie traces his adventures as he searches high and low for his lost sandwich and becomes quite peckish. Ultimately he finds it again. We are not giving anything away here; the real mystery revolves around what had happened to it and to find out you will have to watch the movie when it is released in December 2024.
Meanwhile, other directors are following Bim's ground-breaking lead.
Steven Spielberg, for instance, is making
• "The Alien Planet Where Everybody’s Nice", while Clint Eastwood is currently filming
• "Forgiven", having just finished
• "Let's All Cheer Up a Bit".
Editor’s Note
For the humour section of this magazine we welcome submissions of satire, jokes and cartoons or indeed anything that might make the reader chuckle because the main thing wrong with our society, if anything, is the tendency for everyone to get too darn serious.
It’s early days yet and so far we’ve had no-one brave enough to contribute a welcome stab at wit.
So, speaking of stabbing I’ve been forced to fill the void with some of my own satirical articles like the one you’ve just read (sorry about that).
If you would like this grim state of affairs to end, please send in some humour quick!
by Sally Oasis
I’ve painted all my life and absolutely love it!
Last December 2023 we refurbished the most gorgeous old farm building, Home Farm, on the beautiful William Robinson Estate at Gravetye Manor, West Hoathly, (see video) turning it into an amazing gallery and studio. I work in the studio most days and you’re more than welcome to come and visit. Just contact me prior to arrange.
There are lots of beautiful walks around the area here too and it’s perfect for painting inspiration. I love our gorgeous countryside, gardens and areas of outstanding beauty. On walks and rambles I absorb the views, colours, patterns, smells and sounds then back in my studio, reinterpret them onto canvas for you to enjoy and experience.
Starting my business in the 1990s as a market stall holder in Crawley, I’m now so happy to be painting full-time, especially during the colder months with my lovely roaring log burners keeping the gallery and studio warm.
I am very proud to be supplying my art to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Wakehurst Place. I also supply my cards and prints to Coolings Garden Centre at Wych Cross, Pots and Pithoi, Groombridge Farm Shop and Hospices of Hope.
It’s really lovely to meet my customers and a pleasure to see how happy buying one of my paintings makes them feel. I’m incredibly privileged and grateful to have been given the gift of painting and want to always share my sense of colour and joy.
I happily take on commissions and enjoy working with customers to achieve exactly what they want in a painting.
Bright, joyful art bringing colour and energy into your life.
www.sallyoasispaintings.co.uk
Instagram @sallyoasisoriginalabstractart
Facebook @sallyoasis
Tel/WhatsApp 07547384148
A new book club has arrived in East Grinstead!
If you love getting lost in a good book and want to meet like-minded ladies in your area, come and join our informal, friendly book club. We read a mix of everything from the latest “best-sellers” to classic favourites. Our vibe is super relaxed and friendly, perfect for making new friends who share your love for books.
Introducing . . .
Warrior Arts & Fitness is a martial arts academy based in Forest Row.
Established in 2015, we teach a variety of martial arts including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Muay Thai Kickboxing and Filipino Stick Fighting.
We have classes for all ages with our Warrior Kids, Teens classes and adult sessions with a full weekly timetable alongside one-to-one training and Personal Training.
Our academy is very proud of our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu team, who over the last few years have had great success in national tournaments across the UK.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a ground fighting sport and selfdefence martial art focusing on controlling an opponent and submitting them with joint locks or chokes. Referred to as the "Gentle Art" BJJ focuses on leverage and using the opponent’s strength against them.
If you are interested in getting involved, please do not hesitate to contact us:
Matt Tucker on 07713 086557
EMAIL Email@warrior-arts-fitness.com.
The Crawley Down Ladies Choir is a not-forprofit community organisation originally formed in 1969 that started as a WI choir but subsequently became independent.
We belong to the National Association of Choirs.
Members are made up from the residents of Crawley Down, Copthorne, Turners Hill, East Grinstead and the other surrounding villages who meet on a Monday evening during term time 7.30 - 9.30pm in the Birch Room at The Haven Centre, Crawley Down.
We hold 2 concerts a year in the Dorothy Hatswell Hall at The Haven Centre in June and then December.
By the time this article is published we will have held our 2024 Christmas concert, a matinee performance at 2pm on Saturday December 14th complete with our guest act - a group of children from the Haven Theatre Group who sang for us.
2024 brought several changes and challenges with it.
Our long-term Musical Director (MD) decided that after 50 years as a singer, pianist and latterly MD she would step down after the June summer concert although happily she remained as a singer in the alto section.
We were therefore very pleased to welcome our new MD, Kathleen Shuster, for the start of the September term.
Kathleen also runs the local group "Rising Stars Theatre Company" which is East Grinstead based.
Looking forward to 2025, we start the year on Monday January 13th when we will start learning music for our summer concert, which will be held on Saturday 14th June.
We are always happy to welcome new members both sopranos and altos and will even be holding a "Come and Sing" evening on January 20th 2025 to encourage anyone who has thought about singing with a choir to 'try before you buy'. FREE ENTRY.
Please contact Elaine on 07799 652302 Although helpful, there is no requirement to read music.
Singing is good for your health, both physical and mental, it provides a wonderful social outlet and opportunity to mix with others.
Do come along!
See our website: crawleydownladieschoir.co.uk
The British Heart Foundation charity shop in London Road, East Grinstead is looking for volunteers to join its dedicated team. If you’d like to help, then please visit their website here
Watch the video here
This May the charity Rhino Ark UK put on a cycle orienteering challenge amongst the beautiful bluebells of Pippingford Park on the Ashdown Forest.
The weather gods were kind to us and the sun shone as teams of cyclists used the maps provided to search for checkpoints hidden in the woods. They were given challenges that related to the work that Rhino Ark does with wildlife and communities around the mountain national parks of Kenya.
The Black Rhino sanctuary in the Aberdare National Park was represented by Ronnie our electric rhino.
The Eastern Mountain Bongo reintroduction scheme on Mt Kenya inspired a mad dash around the trees trying to identify individual Bongos by name. Rainfall roof demonstrates, in a very small way, the rainwater harvesting equipment that Rhino Ark installs in schools next to the parks.
The welly throwing competition gives a nod to the equipment Rhino Ark provides for forest scouts whose important work includes de-snaring, preventing charcoal burning and illegal logging.
Teams gained points on the challenges and as we know, points mean prizes. Overall winners were the Singh family while Forest Row Scouts combined teams won the special Youth Group prize.
The event raised over £2500 for conservation in Kenya.
See the work Rhino Ark does and the origins of the charity here
To find out more about the vital work that Rhino Ark does, please visit their website
Next year’s UK Rhino Challenge will be held on Sunday May 4th 2025 at Pippingford. Details and tickets on www.ukrhinochallenge.co.uk
by Michael Brooks
We are Christians Against Poverty (CAP) so it won't surprise you that, as Christians, we love Christmas! However, winter can be really challenging for families living in poverty. Together with local churches, CAP provides free debt advice and other services, alongside emergency aid to households struggling to heat their homes and afford food. More than ever, the values of Christmas – like kindness, being a cheerful giver, and spreading hope and joy in your community – are so important. Here are five ways you can be a light to others in need.
1. Host a Christmas open house
Consider what you can do for your neighbours and friends. Inviting them round to an open house, to a place of warmth with food and good company, could be just what they need to lift their spirits. You could give out little favours or gifts – they don’t have to be lavish presents, but some homemade treats to show you care can go a long way to making people feel valued and supported.
2. Volunteer at a charity
This Christmas, many across the UK won’t even have access to a hot meal or a roof over their head. Charities and churches with soup kitchens, food banks, shelters and other outreach programmes are always looking for willing volunteers to help them out. If you have some time to spare, why not give it away and contribute to bringing vital relief to others in your local area?
3. Make Christmas hampers to give to those in need
Making Christmas hampers is a fun and rewarding thing to do as a family – even the children can take part and contribute. Giving a hamper can be as simple or elaborate as you like, and serves to provide practical help to those struggling financially. Such a gesture eases the loneliness and despair that those grap-
pling with debt may be feeling, and sends a message of hope and goodwill this Christmas.
4. Encourage people to seek free support
Encourage those who are struggling financially to get in touch with a local church and see what support they can provide, as many churches offer a range of practical and emotional help to ease financial pressure and see lives transformed. In partnership with CAP, churches provide free debt help, budgeting guidance, job clubs and life skills groups. Many also offer food shops, warm spaces and emergency aid. Visit capuk.org/help to find out more.
5. Help provide emergency aid
In partnership with CAP, hundreds of churches are providing emergency aid this winter, such as energy top-ups, food shops and school uniforms to families in desperate circumstances. But they urgently need your support. If you’re in a fortunate position to be able to give financially, you can make a huge difference this Christmas. To make a donation, please visit capuk.org/winter.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a UK charity working with over 800 affiliated churches to deliver debt help, budgeting guidance, support to find work, life skills education and more. Visit capuk.org to find out more.
Michael Brooks is the Community links coordinator - East Grinstead Christians Against Poverty
Merlee Harris ND has devoted over 40 years to the cause of helping others achieve health, well-being and spiritual development.
There is probably no higher purpose for life than to help so the hard-won opportunity to help others has been an exciting and rewarding journey of both discovery and self-discovery, an experience for which she remains profoundly grateful.
Merlee facilitates health and well-being retreats in several countries. The Sanctuary of Light, her previous London clinic, gave 25 years of service and, today, her Beechcroft Retreats near Forest Row has been going strong for nearly a quarter of a century.
Continuing to work with enthusiasm, passion and integrity, she has helped people from all over the world with various health problems and continues her personal spiritual path to this day.
In June 2007 Merlee was awarded the BEAMM for Recognition of Enterprise, Excellence and Achievement.
In August 2014, The Global Directory of Who’s Who, honoured her as a Lifetime Member, in recognition of her hard work, dedication and perseverance and for demonstrating leadership and contributions to the medical profession as a Top Health Professional.
In April 2022 she won a Speakers Are Leaders award for Extraordinary Client Results
As an author, Merlee has expanded her repertoire still further by sharing her years of hard-won expertise with the publication of two books, which you can take a look at here. Find out more about Merlee Harris’ work:
WEBSITE BLOG LINKED IN FACEBOOK TWITTER
In this article I may well be reminding you of what you already know.
However, I am going to say it anyway as it does appear that in the turbulence of our modern world, important basic principles can be lost from view the way one can lose sight of a mountain in a blizzard.
And lest the inescapable fundamental of economics becomes forgotten, it would be a good idea to refresh our understanding of it.
So here it is.
What is wealth?
Wealth is possession of or access to cars, houses, food, entertainment and so on and so forth, that can be summed up as “goods and services”
The more goods and services you can have, the wealthier you are.
All goods and services have to be created by human beings. They cannot exist unless someone creates them.
One can create them oneself or acquire them from others who have created them.
It is impossible for any individual to create by himself all the goods and services he needs for a tolerable existence, let alone an enjoyable one.
Therefore, he has to acquire from others what he does not himself create.
He can acquire them in one of three basic ways:
1. Take them from others without their consent, by trickery or outright force. This we define as CRIMINAL.
2. Be given them by another willingly without having to give something in return, this we call CHARITY.
3. We can give them something of ours in agreedupon exchange for something of theirs. This we call FAIR EXCHANGE and is the basis of economics.
So it is also with groups and with nations.
A nation is as wealthy as it can produce goods and services in sufficient quantity as to satisfy its needs for them and can exchange goods and services it produces with other nations so as to acquire goods and services it does not itself produce.
The more goods and services it produces for its own consumption or for exchange with other nations so as to acquire their goods and services, the wealthier and more secure a nation becomes.
The basic natural law here, for individuals, groups and nations is: the best guarantee of survival is to create abundance.
If a nation does not produce in this wise, it becomes poor, unless it can acquire from other nations the wealth they have created by charity or theft in its many guises.
Thus, the ability to produce goods and services in abundance is the key to wealth.
We can see also that the suppression or inhibition of production, the crippling or penalising of enterprise by, for example, punitive taxation will never ever improve the wealth of a nation an can only make it poorer.
Production is the basis not only of a nation’s wealth but also its morale, self-respect and core strength.
The most important asset of any nation or community is its honest producers of goods and services. Anyone who inhibits or demoralises or penalises or thwarts those producers is striking directly at the survival prospects of the nation. Governments who do this swiftly lose the affinity of their People and become themselves endangered.
Just as an individual who acquires wealth by charity or criminality has lost self-respect and self-reliance and is inherently weak and at effect of the whims and vagaries of others, so a community that loses the willingness to produce and prosper by fair exchange becomes degraded and weak.
Any person or group who promises greater prosperity without facilitating greater production is lying.
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Ya Gotta Produce! - continued from previous page
Thus, any government that truly wishes the People it serves to be prosperous must do all in its power to help, encourage and reward production and honest exchange between producers.
A case in point is the United Kingdom, whose increasing poverty has been created through decades of neglecting or thwarting production. Its fortunes and the fortunes of its constituent communities will continue to decline unless its government removes the stops and penalties and arbitraries that inhibit production. There is another basic law here:
If you reward non-production and penalise production, you’ll get non-production. If you reward production and penalise non-production, you’ll get production.
In terms of increasing production, the “reward” side of the equation is probably more important than the “penalise ”side.
Similarly, persons or groups fulfilling the service known as “government” must, if they wish to be rewarded for their efforts, offer in exchange needed and wanted services desired by the consumer.
I’m not really sure what I did before I got hooked Jo Way on her Love of Art
I moved to East Grinstead early1980s with my parents , youngest of three children (haha the afterthought), my elder siblings having left home. The art interest was something all three of us had, my brother loved to travel and we have some beautiful sketches he did in Africa before he tragically died aged just 34 .
My sister lives in NottingHill and her mixed-media art is very popular. My favourite subjects at school were Art, English and PE and though I wasn’t the best student at Imberhorne and left early into the 6th form - my love of drawing and writing continued.
My late father was very good with words and that is obviously where I got my love of writing, children’s stories and quirky little poems are my genre (yet to be published but it is on the back burner). Back in the day when vinyl was big I would attempt to copy album covers or draw Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, just copy pictures I saw and liked and I enjoyed it. Time went by and I married and had 2 amazing children and at latest count two wonderful grandsons. Neither of my children got the art gene but my grandchildren both want the paints and pencils out when they visit. I had never done art classes but eventually I managed to find one and signup for a course locally. It was called Seasons and was held at Chequer Mead on a Tuesday mornings. It was run by Joanna, and taught by Sheri Gee who is a wonderful teacher and artist. Over the course of 12 weeks we would work in different mediums, using different paper, learn different techniques and I met some wonderful people whom I class as good friends. It was
great to get feedback on your art and see the different ways the 6 of us around our table portrayed that week’s subject. I did two courses and then Covid struck so had to go it alone, I wasn’t keen doing a zoom class. I bought myself a set of the wonderful Faber Castell polychromos pencils with some money my dear late mother-in-law had left me, I know she would have approved.
Several of us from our art course have stayed in touch and meet up for art sessions at one of our houses. We all have our own favourite areas of art, mine being animals, people and the odd landscape. One day a friend asked if I would draw a picture of someone’s spaniel as a gift and it came out pretty well and since then I have had a fair few commissions, dogs, cats and a couple of horses and I enjoy doing them as long as I have a nice sharp photo to work from.
I am never going to be the worlds best realist painter that can do photographic copy, I like a picture to look like a picture. My art supplies grew: acrylic, charcoal, water colour, pastels as I tried various interesting projects which we had been taught in class and some I heard about on YouTube such as paint pour which is fun but a bit messy. So with no fixed style I dabble in all sorts. I find detailed watercolour tricky but loose watercolour I love because it’s free and you are never entirely sure how it will turn out and I’m very keen on chalk pastel, again a messy one but you can get really hands-on with it. I was lucky enough to pick up an art desk cheaply which takes up quite a lot of space but is my art area (the grandchildren can both fit at once when they come). My son’s girlfriend (who is a lovely watercolourist) and I went off on a treat day to do an oil painting day which was really enjoyable. I’m not a fan of painting flowers and my heart sank when I saw what our project was but with some great tuition our pictures turned out very satisfying.
Art is such a wonderful hobby you can really throw yourself into whatever your level, you can do mixed media or just scribble and surprise yourself sometimes it’s usually more fun than frustrating. In fact I find that inspiration for what to draw or paint is the hardest part, that and knowing when to stop working on a picture. Every time I go away on holiday I take at least a sketch book and pencil it’s one of the essentials on the packing list ha ha. I tend to have several various projects on the go at once so I have go-to things whatever I’m in the mood to do, and I usually do a little bit of drawing most days. I’m not really sure what I did before I got hooked
by Steve Cook
Heed not the decriers And defamers of Man, For Man brought the fire Of creation with him from the stars, Then forgot the reasons that he came. Skip regret and dwell you not in blame For in short time has Man ne'er less Etched his name in the stained glass Of imagination and the whole world Spanned with miraculous towers, And raising them higher by the hour, Fashioned cities and nations from his dreams. Do not believe the con men and liars Who know naught but how To disable gods with self doubt And would if they could Blind them forever
To their true power
With mischievous screams Of derision and how-bad-it-all-is Streams of wired-in shame. Listen not to the satanic whisperers Who preach disillusion and the futility of dreams, Who paint failure
Over the bright canvas of triumph And would have you believe Naught of your true self.
From the desert's sterile and desultory sand, Nothing grows so go to where proud cities stand And sow the healthy seed in the fertile Soil of well-justified hope.
Grow your world from its rightnesses, The good seeds with which You are both blessed And surroundedAnd which, indeed, You created.
by Alison Earnshaw
I was an overdue and somewhat hesitant arrival at the Smartphone party! My trusty Samsung is imminently celebrating its fifth birthday, although I’m told this makes it rather elderly in ‘Smartphone Years’.
These apparently work in a similar way to ‘Dog and Cat Years’, one year being the equivalent of seven! But my phone and I have now bonded and one joy (that I was far later than most in discovering) is not only the ease of capturing happy moments with friends and family but also glimpses of nature, countryside and heritage of which so much is accessible from East Grinstead and the surrounding villages.
The natural and historic world are accommodating subjects on the whole; uncomplaining if I don’t get their best side and always ready for their close-ups!
Trees, woodland paths, gems such as Chartwell or the Bluebell Railway or when it was just too cold and uninviting to venture far, the early morning frozen windscreens of my neighbours’ cars afforded some rather lovely scrolls and fernlike patterns this past week.
It is, however, easy to miss a fleeting moment when it comes to the local fauna. A recent occasion was when sitting on a Worth Way bench; a striking little bird (since identified as a nuthatch) perched on a tree stump just a few feet away, seemingly oblivious to my presence.
With its distinctively black-striped head on one side, it lived up to its name and began to consume a nut… subject, light, distance and composition for a great photo all perfect! But by the time I’d delved and rummaged in my Tardis of a bag to retrieve my phone, both the moment and the nuthatch were gone.
Since then, my portable memory-collector resides in my (securely zipped!) pocket, more readily accessible to catch whatever everyday yet special moments our changing seasons might bring.
"Alison is a former Modern Languages and S.E.N.D. teacher; currently working on original music production with 'Shot Full Of Rock & Friends'. To find out more, go to: www.shotfullofrock.co.uk
This month’s contribution takes the form of advice on growing your own highly nutritious and highly recommended sprouting seeds
by Samantha Ford of Unique Welllth
Think you need a big garden to grow your own fresh produce? Think again! Sprouting seeds could be the answer you’ve been looking for bringing big health benefits with zero outdoor space required.
Why Sprout?
Sprouting seeds are a powerhouse of nutrients. When seeds sprout, their vitamin, mineral, and enzyme content skyrockets. And because you harvest them right on your kitchen counter, you get all the benefits, fresh and fast. It’s like creating your very own superfood factory!
But it’s not just about nutrients. Sprouted seeds are gentle on your digestive system. They naturally break down complex compounds, making it easier for your body to absorb all that goodness. So, if you’ve ever felt a little uneasy after certain meals, sprouted seeds might just be your digestive saviour.
There’s another win here: sprouting helps reduce antinutrients compounds that can block nutrient absorption in regular seeds. When seeds sprout, those pesky antinutrients take a backseat, leaving your body free to soak up all the goodness.
Sprouted seeds don’t just nourish you they’re delicious, too! With their crunchy texture and mild, nutty flavor, they can transform everyday meals. Sprinkle them on salads, stir them into soups, or blend them into smoothies. It’s an effortless way to add a pop of flavour and nutrition.
The best part? You don’t need much space, money, or experience to start sprouting. With a simple jar and some seeds, you can turn your kitchen into a tiny green oasis. Sprouting is also a sustainable choice, reducing food miles and packaging waste.
Curious about giving it a go? Sprouting seeds is an easy, rewarding way to explore fresh, homegrown food. And if you’d like to try it out, I’ve got a little treat for you a 20% discount on sprouting seeds (1kg and under) and sprouting jars from Buy Whole Foods Online. Many of their options are organic, too!
I’ve personally used their seeds and love the results (and no, I don’t earn a commission I’m just passionate about sharing simple ways to better health).
Visit Buy Whole Foods Online and drop me an email for the discount code.
If you’d like tips on which seeds to choose or advice on sprouting safely at home, feel free to get in touch.
So, why not make sprouting your next kitchen adventure? With big health benefits, delicious flavors, and minimal effort, it’s a win-win for your well-being and the planet!
By Alice Watkyn
Branding is how people perceive your business it’s the personality you project and the feelings you evoke. It’s not just about a logo or tagline; it’s how you connect with customers through your values, visuals, and communication. For small businesses, strong branding is key to standing out, building trust, and creating loyalty.
Branding is crucial because it helps you:
• Build recognition: A strong brand makes you memorable.
• Gain trust: Consistency and authenticity attract loyal customers.
• Create connection: A well-defined brand connects emotionally, making customers feel part of your story.
In short, branding sets you apart and helps you create lasting relationships with your audience.
Creating your brand is easier than you think. Start with these key steps:
• Define your values: What does your business stand for?
• Know your audience: Understand what your customers care about.
• Create a visual identity: Choose a logo, colours, and fonts that reflect your brand.
• Develop your voice: Decide on a tone that matches your personality and audience.
• Be consistent: Keep your branding uniform across all channels.
Avoid these common branding mistakes:
• Inconsistency: Mixing styles confuses customers.
• Imitating others: Stand out by showcasing your unique qualities.
• Ignoring feedback: Listen to customers and refine your brand.
Branding isn’t static. To keep your brand fresh:
• Adapt as you grow: Update your brand to reflect
changes in your business.
• Stay consistent: Keep your look and tone uniform.
Want to build a brand that resonates? Get in touch with Alice at Mouthy Marketing to create a brand that stands out and builds loyalty.
EMAIL: hello@mouthymarketing.co.uk
WEBSITE: www.mouthymarketing.co.uk
In this section we invite you to sing the praises of some person, charity, club or small businesses that has set a fine example of excellent service.
This month we are pleased to present this recommendation from a very happy customer of the Va-nak-kam restaurant in London Road, East Grinstead.
“We couldn't fault this wonderful restaurant. The service was fast and friendly, the ambience pleasant and relaxing and the food out of this world. Everything was beautifully presented and totally delicious thanks to the chef’s masterful touch with exquisite sauces. We enjoyed a very fine evening and left feeling we had gotten extremely good value for money. I chose this restaurant for my wife’s birthday treat and I’m very, very glad I did.
We will without question go again perhaps for my birthday in January (a hint for the wife if she reads this) and I have no hesitation in recommending Va-nak-kam to anyone looking for very fine dining.”
Va-nak-kam’s website is here
Is Volunteering on your ‘to do’ list? If so, or this article has put it in your mind, would you consider offering to drive people from your local area to medical appointments when they have no other means of transport?
This is the main function of local charity CARE in East Grinstead and Lingfield. We take clients who live in the local area to surgeries, dentists, hospitals etc, wait while they have their appointment, within reason, and bring them home.
The support and confidence this gives our clients, bearing in mind they are generally of a certain age, is immeasurable.
Very often families are not available to do this for them so they are very grateful when an organisation like CARE can help.
Our drivers choose the distance they are willing to travel and frequency they can give, so are not asked to do anything outside their comfort zone; we do ap-
preciate they also have other commitments. Fuel costs are reimbursed, and a DBS check is organised and paid for by CARE.
If you do not drive, perhaps you have competent computer skills and would be willing to allocate one day a month, 9am – 5pm, from your own home, to man the phone as a Duty Officer, taking requests for transport and arranging a driver. Full training is given on our easy-to-use database, for this position, and a basic DBS check is carried out. Duty Officers choose their preferred date each month so keeping it flexible.
If you would like more information please check out the CARE website, phone the CARE line on 01342 410086 between 9am and 5pm weekdays or contact the Volunteer Manager on volmanager@careineastgrinstead.co.uk.
Along with many charities, the pressure on our service has increased hugely and we desperately need more drivers and Duty Officers to cover the requests we receive. We really do not like having to turn a client down, knowing they may have to miss a possibly long-awaited medical appointment. If you feel you would like to join this very worthwhile charity, we would love to hear from you.
Little Kickers started in the UK in 2002.
Firstly, we believe in something we call “Play not Push”. It means teaching football in a fun, pressurefree environment. We want to give children a positive introduction to sport as a whole, not just football, so they’re more likely to stay healthy and active throughout their lives.
Secondly, we believe football can be educational. Coached in the right way it can stimulate imagination and aid early development skills such as learning colours and numbers, following instructions and playing as a team.
We have four different football classes each tailored to a different age group. However, we have those two core beliefs that we take into every session.
Our Little Kicks classes are for children aged from 18 months to 2.5 yrs. The main focus of Little Kicks is what we call ‘learning to learn’. Our coaches are taught specific techniques that enable children to get the most out of our classes. We believe that play is one of the greatest development tools and when combined with repetition and structure, ensures effective learning.
Classes involve a number of games that require parents to put on their running shoes and get actively involved in the session. However, some games are specifically targeted at developing independence.
These transition games mean children as young as
two will be able to play independently of their parent or guardian.
We then have:
Junior Kickers classes for 2.5 years to 3.5 years old. Play and games are at the heart of everything we do. Our games cleverly disguise the learning aspect so the children just think they are playing. The more the children enjoy the games, the more they participate. This enjoyment leads to greater confidence, which in turn leads to self-initiated participation and independent play.
Mighty Kickers classes for 3.5 yrs to 5 yrs old. Mighty Kickers classes incorporate our rounded learning approach of play, practice and understanding. Play is the motivator and promotes continued and repeated practice. This disguised learning in itself is a powerful tool, however we believe in not only teaching the children how to perform the skills, but also to understand why and where to use the skill in the real world.
This transcends all six areas of our curriculum: - Personal, social & emotional development, - Communication, language & literacy, - Mathematical development, - Knowledge & understanding of the World, - Physical development, - Creative development.
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Litte Kickers continued from previous page
Mega Kickers classes for 5 to 8 years old. More touches on the ball lead to faster and greater skill gain. Every child has their own ball throughout the session and our games are specifically designed for maximum touches of the ball. The games are progressively challenging enabling new skills to be learnt each lesson, however children are able to work within their ability.
Children become more competitive at this age and are taught to challenge themselves and one another. The match becomes the climax of the session and is the perfect outlet for channeling children’s competitive energy as well as transferring their skills into a real-world situation.
Key Features of our classes are:
- 45-minute class
- Weekly classes
- One coach with up to12 children OR two coaches for 13 to 16 children
- Each child receives a football kit
- 4 unique badges to collect across the Little Kicks programme
We have classes inside during the winter in the King’s Leisure Centre on Saturday and Sunday mornings and during the summer months we take all the children outside to Mount Noddy Park!
To sign up just go to the Little Kickers website (www.littlekickers.co.uk), click on find a class and input the requested information!
Do you want the community to know more about your club? Write and tell us about it!
This charming woolly hat sits atop the pillar box outside the Sunnyside Post Office on the corner of Dunnings Road and Coronation Road in East Grinstead. It thoroughly deserves an honourable mention in the Town Crier for its delightful combination of aesthetics, creative skill and heartwarming spirit of play.
A very well done to the public-spirited guerilla knitter who created it and placed it there to brighten up the area. Your contribution to your community is appreciated.
I’d love to see more of these creations around the town so if you come across one, take a picture and send it in.
Better still, get knitting and create one.
Myfolks provides practical and compassionate solution for an ageing population in the form of a revolutionary app that enables users to send vetted, DBSchecked people, that we call Myfolksers, to provide practical and emotional support to their elderly loved ones.
Whether it’s helping with daily tasks, providing companionship or offering assistance after a hospital discharge, Myfolks is there to fill the gap left by stretched public services. We operate at the point before visits to provide personal care are required but additional supported is certainly needed. We can overlap with personal care providers too.
Launched in November 2023, the service is really making a difference, offering flexible support options ranging from single visits to ongoing presence.
It is hard to comprehend that once-strong parents will need so much help, and it usually happens suddenly and chaotically, meaning choices that have to be made are often not optimal, but simply those available.
We are driving out social isolation, which if allowed to become chronic leads to a 56% increased risk of stroke, 32% increased risk of heart disease and increase risk of diabetes and dementia. It is vital that we intervene before this leads to worsening health. We are promoting social health.
Founder Louise Thompson’s inspiration came from her own parents’ needs – the desire for a human touch in moments of fear and loneliness – and she was determined to provide this for others, because she knows how exhausting and all-consuming being a family caregiver can be.
It is important that people have someone who can step in, now and again, on a chargeable basis. You can’t pour from an empty jug, and caregivers must take some time for themselves in order to continue to care for their loved one.
Louise has lived in East Grinstead for over 20 years, although she is Geordie by birth. Her parents remained in the North East and the distance between them, once they were ill was an additional challenge.
Myfolks is supported by the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, the Health Innovation Network and is on the very first NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme to include patient entrepreneurs present, like Louise, by way of lived experience.
Myfolks is proud to be providing the service in East Grinstead as well as in various other areas around the UK, with the aim to cover the whole of the UK and beyond in the coming years.
This is important because the global population is living longer but not well. We must do more to support them.
We are also proud that being a Myfolkser enables people to get back into really flexible, purposeful, decently-paid work, as we draw Myfolksers from the local community. It has been described as the best work in the world.
Do please get in touch to explore taking visits for a loved one or becoming a Myfolkser.
www.myfolks.uk tel 03330045922
This year we have places for the Brighton Half Marathon, and what better time than the new year to challenge yourself to go further for charity.
This will be our second year of being a charity partner at the half marathon, and we’re looking forward to an even bigger event this year.
Last year we had 27 runners, including people who had never run a half marathon before, all reach the finish and smash their fundraising targets.
Every TMD event you attend has a significant impact on the services we can provide, allowing us to support more families in the South-East.
Join Team Taylor-Made Dreams for an amazing event and support services now and in the future for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
What you’ll get as part of team TMD:
1. Your own running vest or t-shirt
2. Support from start to finish from all the TMD Team
3. Help with your fundraising
4. A cheer point on the day
5. Cheering t-shirts and materials for your family and friends.
We know that fundraising can be just as challenging as the event, but our team will be on hand to help.
Alongside your support pack, we’ll be in regular contact with support, advice and ideas, and on hand for any questions you might have about fundraising or training.
Date: Sunday, 2nd March 2025
Location: Madeira Drive, Brighton
Registration: £25
Sponsorship: We ask that our participants raise a minimum of £250 each.
You can sign up for your charity place by contacting simon@taylormadedreams.org.uk
Here’s a Wild Idea . . . .
It is becoming clear to many people that we cannot always trust the food industry to provide us with safe, nutritious food uncontaminated by harmful chemicals that threaten our health.
As has been rightly pointed out, one of the positive things we can do about this is shorten the supply chain, cut out the often highly unethical middlemen and buy direct from the farms.
With that in mind, the Town Crier will in future issues have a section called Farmers’ Forum, in which farmers and ethical suppliers can make themselves known to the community. In this way we hope we can help farmers and consumers work together for the health and wellbeing of all.
Judith Rayner has very kindly agreed to give Town Crier readers the benefit of her expertise via a monthly feature in the magazine and thus links arms with our growing band of public benefactors willing to share with you some of their hard won knowhow.
moving among trees and being in nature.
My Walking Business Mastermind, which I started nine years ago, proved that some of the most powerful insights happen when we’re moving, not stuck sitting in front of a laptop.
In this article, we ve invited her to introduce herself.
Hi there! I’m Judith Rayner, also known as The Business Walker – the clue is in the title!
After 15 years of working with women in businesscoaching, mentoring, training, and now as a Certified Breathwork Coach, I’ve discovered that transformation doesn’t happen sitting still. It happens when we move, when we breathe, when we connect to ourselves and what’s important.
I love variety and freedom and am lucky to be able to work with flexibility at the core – some days I’m doing one-to-one coaching sessions, helping women untangle their professional challenges and personal roadblocks. We might be walking and talking through the beautiful Sussex countryside, or diving deep into breathwork techniques that help them reset and reconnect.
Other times, I’m running breathwork or coaching workshops. Some are online, others indoors in local East Grinstead spaces or out in nature - because there’s something magical about breathing and
I’ve always been a bit of a rebel when it comes to traditional coaching. I don’t believe in one-size-fitsall success formulas. Instead, I create spaces where women can breathe, walk, and grow at their own pace.
Whether it’s a one-hour coaching session, a half-day workshop, or a walking conversation, my goal is always the same: to help women find more ease, clarity and connection so they can take their next steps.
When I’m not coaching or leading workshops, you’ll probably find me dancing, reading, or learning something new. I’m a perpetual student of life, always curious, always exploring.
Want to join me on this journey of movement, breath and transformation?
You’ll find me here in the Town Crier each month sharing short articles, tips and practices to help you to breathe a little deeper, walk a little slower, be a little kinder to yourself, and to explore simple ways of finding more ease and flow in your everyday life and work.
You can find Judith Rayner on Instagram and Facebook for local workshops and events or go to the website (currently being updated) www.walkandtalk4success.com
It’s means “It is", examples: It’s quite cold this morning. I’ll let you know when it’s done.
Its means “belonging to it”, examples: The tree sheds its leaves in winter When she cheereed up, her smile regained its sparkle.
In this section we encourage you to share your best recipe for wholesome food made with organic ingredients and free of any of the hidden nasties that make eating a game of Russian Roulette.
Last month we featured a recipe for organic sugar-free nut and cinnamon scones and this month we feature a recipe for sourdough bread.
If you have a healthy recipe you would like to share, please submit it to: steve.cook.writer@mail.com
The following recipe should more or less halve the cost of your bread, whilst helping you be healthy.
By test, once you are used to doing it, the actual work involved takes about 15 minutes of your time. But first you need to make the starter . . .
DAY ONE: In a glass mixing bowl put the following ingredients and mix them together with a wooden spoon (avoid using plastic); 20g organic flour + 20g spring water or filtered water (should be quite warm about 30C) + 5g organic runny honey.
Cover the mixed ingredients with a clean cloth and stand to ferment in a warm place (I use the airing cupboard) for 24 hours.
DAY TWO: Mix in:
40g organic flour + 40g spring or filtered water (at about 30C) + 5g organic runny honey. Cover with a clean cloth and let it stand in a warm place for another 24 hours.
DAY THREE
Mix your fermenting starter with: 80g organic flour + 80g warm spring or filtered water. No honey this time. Cover once more and leave to stand for another 24 hours in a warm place.
DAY FOUR
Mix your fermenting starter with:100g organic flour + 100g water.
Your starter mix is nearly ready for use. Place it in a glass jar but do not close the lid as you need to let the air circulate. Instead, cover the jar with a muslin cloth to keep the flies out but let the air in.
You can pretty much use your starter whenever you want now but I suggest let it stand for another half day before use.
Refresh it every three days by adding a quarter of its weight in flour and a quarter of its weight in water.
I use mine every three days on average. Each time, I use 300g of starter (see recipe). When I do I immediately top the starter back up with 150g of flour plus 150 g of water and let it stand until I next need it. I've found that it can be used every 24 hours without a problem.
If you are going away you can put the starter jar in the fridge with the lid on. I believe it will keep for weeks although I've not yet tried it.
I use organic wholemeal flour but you can use whatever flour you prefer.
Now for the recipe: turn to the next page
Recipes that won’t kill you How to make your own
Making your own 100% fresh organic sourdough bread is very easy and once you are used to it, it only takes a few minutes.
By trial and error I've simplified it down to a very straightforward and basic procedure that seems to work very well.
Have a go and see what you think.
NOTE: this recipe does not use yeast but a sourdough starter, which apparently is how bread used to be made before the existence and role of yeast was discovered. Making the sourdough starter is easy and a recipe for this is on the previous page.
Step 1: put 500 gm of flour in a large glass mixing bowl. I've used organic wholemeal or organic stoneground wholemeal or organic strong white bread flour or organic white rye or organic rye. The same basic recipe applies. I'm sure you can use other flours if you want. Use organic rye or organic white rye if you want bread with very little gluten.
Step2: add natural sea salt or similar. I use just a pinch but you can vary it according to taste. Then add about a dessert spoon of organic olive oil.
Step 3: mix these with a wooden spoon (avoid plastic).
Step 4:Add 300 gm of sourdough starter (see recipe for the starter below) and stir it in thoroughly.
Step 5: add water and stir it in until you have a slightly moist but not gooey consistency. I use warm water as it seems to help the dough rise. If you are using rye flour, warm water is essential. In fact you want it quite warm for rye flour - not too hot to touch obviously but about as warm as water used to wash your hands.
Step 6: knead the dough. I used to turn the mixed dough out onto a floured board and knead it with my hands the way most recipes tell you to. But then I found that if I kept it in the bowl and just worked it for a few minutes with one hand (wetted under the tap to prevent the dough sticking to my hand) whilst holding and turning the bowl with the other, this worked fine. Doing it this way saves having to use a board and having to flour the board to prevent the dough sticking to it (a waste of good flour). Just a few minutes of one-handed kneading does the trick.
Step 7: turn out your dough into a rectangular baking tin (see pic). The tins I am using are 9inch x 5inch. I first line the tin with non-stick baking paper to stop the dough sticking to the tin. This saves having to flour and oil the tin and when the dough is baked it is easier to turn it out of the tin.
Step 8: leave to stand in a warm place for at least 24 hours. I use the airing cupboard. Cover the tin with a clean tea towel when you do so.
NB, you have just used 300 mg of your sourdough starter so this will have to be replaced. Simply mix 150mg of flour and 150mg of filtered water in bowl until smooth, then pour into your sourdough starter jar. Mix it in briefly with the live culture that is already in the jar and then cover your jar with muslin (see starter recipe below). Return the jar to its warm storage place. Leave a day or two before using again. The loaf you are making should last you a couple of days, even if you are a bit of a scoffer like me. Another tip: to compensate for the inevitable natural slight wastage, make your top-up slightly more than 300gm (say 155 gm flour plus 155 gm water= 310 gm).
Step 8: leave to stand in a warm place for at least 24 hours. I use the airing cupboard. Cover the tin with a clean tea towel when you do so. Continued on next page
Sourdough bread recipe continued
NB, you have just used 300 mg of your sourdough starter so this will have to be replaced. Simply mix 150mg of flour and 150mg of filtered water in bowl until smooth, then pour into your sourdough starter jar. Mix it in briefly with the live culture that is already in the jar and then cover your jar with muslin (see starter recipe below). Return the jar to its warm storage place. Leave a day or two before using again. The loaf you are making should last you a couple of days, even if you are a bit of scoffer like me. Another tip: to compensate for the inevitable natural slight wastage, make your top-up slightly more than 300gm (say 155 gm flour plus 155 gm water= 310 gm)
Step 9: place an oven-proof tray or dish on the bottom shelf of your fan oven. Preheat the fan oven to 240 degrees C. Do not skimp on making sure the oven is thoroughly preheated.
Step 10: remove the tea towels covering your baking tin and place the tin on the middle shelf of your preheated oven. Shut the oven door. Start your timer (it should be set for 35 minutes)
Step 11: after a couple of minutes open the oven door and chuck about half a litre of cold water into the dish or tray the bottom of the oven so as to create steam. Immediately shut the oven door. While doing this (takes a couple of seconds) keep the timer running.
Step 12: at the end of the 35 minutes remove the tin from the oven. Watch out, it is hot! Turn out the baked bread and remove the greaseproof paper. Tap the bottom of the loaf - if the bread is fully baked it will sound and feel hollow. I find that in my fan oven, 35 minutes produces perfectly baked bread.
If the underside does not feel stiff and hollow, put it back in the oven for another ten minutes at 200C. Trial and error will teach you what works best for you and your oven.
Step 13: place your hot loaf on a wire tray to cool.
Step 14: eat.
Send it to us now! The best one will be in the January Issue of the Town Crier
Having struggled to lose weight in the past, joining my local Slimming World group was one of the best things I’ve ever done. Within a few months, I was two-and-a -half stone lighter, happier and full of confidence.
What got me through those doors that very first time was the thought of my upcoming 40th birthday party less than a year away. Finding a nice party dress and feeling good about myself seemed like a distant dream from how I was currently feeling: frumpy, tired, and wanting to hide away.
My consultant was lovely and welcoming and the group members were really supportive. I learnt to Food Optimise (Slimming World’s healthy eating plan) and be more active in my daily life.
With Slimming World you’re eating healthy everyday foods that are naturally lower in energy density, fill you up and keep you feeling full. The plan encourages you to enjoy plenty of tasty, filling foods like pasta, rice, potatoes, eggs, fat-free natural yogurt, lean meat, fish, fruit and veg, without counting calories. You don’t go hungry so you don’t feel like you’re missing out. You learn how to make all your family favorite recipes fit the plan so you don’t need to cook different meals. And you have a daily syn allowance for those special treats, which meant I didn’t have to give up my chocolate and prosecco! I just needed to learn how to fit them in with the plan.
Who knew you can lose weight without feeling hungry or deprived?! That’s the beauty of Slimming World. It’s generous, effective and liberating! I loved it so much that I decided to become a Slimming World consultant alongside my full-time job.
Well, I was raving about it all the time anyway!
After completing the first part of my consultant training at Slimming World head office in Derbyshire, I launched my very own group in East Grinstead on Saturday 4th May 2024. That first morning I stood up there in front of the group for the very first time, nervous and most likely stuttering as I had never done anything like this before!
But little did I know what lovely people I would meet! The group is full of supportive, caring people.
It is such a privilege for me to help others to achieve their goals. We already have 5 target members in our group. One of which is Sean who has lost four-and-a-half stone. Now he’s learning how to maintain his target with the help of the Slim for Life book, a 12-week plan to help target members transition from losing weight to maintaining weight.
Support is really the most important thing. It all starts with feeling that you’re not alone. Plus the weekly help, encouragement and understanding of the Consultant and group members. As someone who has lost weight myself, I know the challenges people can face, which is why, along with the group, I will be there to support all my members get to their chosen target weight. Setting targets, sharing recipes and other ideas, and working together as a group to overcome challenges and celebrate success is so important to a successful journey.
If you would like some help to lose weight, come along and give it a go. It could change your life too!
And I did feel amazing in that party dress for my 40th!
Saturdays 8.30am at Sunnyside Barn, Dunnings Road, East Grinstead RH19 4AT
Phone 07471369874.
MY PICK OF
STONES BUTCHERS, LINGFIELD ROAD. PHOTO SUPPLIED BY STEVE POND
Click here for some videos of the evening
